Page 47 of Just One Chance

She moved away to sit on the counter stool. "Eggs are fine."

"Listen, if this isn't working for you anymore, we can stop." I didn't want to stop for any reason, but I'd respect her wishes.

She looked away. "I don't want to."

I stretched the kink out of my neck. "I don't either."

"I'm not sure getting involved is the best idea for my business. I'd rather no one know about it."

I could see why she needed to keep it a secret. She was here for work after all. But it still bothered me. "There's no reason to tell anyone. This is between us."

"Everyone thinks we can't get along. We need to keep it that way."

I nodded in agreement, even as my stomach rolled with indecision. "Keep doing what we're doing."

"I'm only here for a short time. Then I'll be gone. No one ever has to know."

"Is there a particular reason why you don't want anyone to know?" I could understand if it had something to do with her business. But it seemed like more.

She sighed. "When I worked directly for a hotel, I dated the manager. When everyone found out, I was the one who had to leave. Shane took credit for my ideas. I decided to go out on my own. The focus should be on the work, not who I'm sleeping with."

"I'm sorry that happened to you." He was a jerk for letting her take the fall, then stealing her ideas.

"It was a bad decision on my part."

"You couldn't known that would happen." I hated that she'd experienced someone like that.

"Everyone is out for themselves," she said as if that explained everything.

I frowned. "Maybe in your world. But not here. We look out for each other."

She sighed. "I guess that's the difference between a city and a small town. Everyone is looking to get ahead, and they don't care whose work they steal or whose life they ruin. I can't even be sure he was with me for the right reasons. I had a hard time trusting anyone after that. I've been solely focused on my business."

"That's understandable." Was that the reason why this arrangement worked well for her? She didn't have to get close to me. She kept me at arm's length. There was an easy out, an end date on the calendar. Even if I wanted something more, she didn't. She was protecting herself, and I couldn't blame her. That guy really was a jerk.

"I'm over it now. It was a long time ago."

Yet it clearly still shaped her decisions. "Have you dated anyone since then?"

"Mmm. Nothing serious. My business comes first, and I travel a lot. Most guys don't like the amount of time I spend on my business."

"It doesn't bother me. I like that you already own a successful business. If anything, you're pushing me to do more."

She smiled. "Really?"

"Yeah, you've motivated me to get a website and start doing some real marketing." I was preparing myself for the possibility that she wouldn't be recommending my work to my parents. I was making a plan for when that happened. I needed to build the business without my family's help.

I plated the eggs and set them in front of Kennedy. Then I poured coffee for both of us. I stood at the counter, shoveling the scrambled eggs in my mouth. "What's on the agenda for today?"

"I need to take some notes and brainstorm. I've seen the rooms, the inn itself, the restaurant, the brewery, and I've hiked a bit."

"Are you planning to give your conclusions to my parents soon?"

"Usually I get a sense very quickly, but it's taking me longer with Hart Inn, so I'm not sure."

"I hope I'm not clouding your judgment."

She frowned. "You might be a distraction. I should probably take a few days to myself instead of sightseeing."